Ode to Grams
To anyone else she was just another old lady staring blindly in the general direction of the communal TV which was blaring out mindless daytime chat shows for its gathered audience. She wasn’t just any old lady though; she was Eleanor Craig, my grandma.
On first glance she was tiny and frail until her weary, watery eyes met yours in the doorway. The cloud of confusion slowly cleared from her pale blue eyes and was replaced by a sparkling of recognition. As you walked towards her, she appeared to grow, until her presence and welcoming smile filled the room. Arms outstretched as soon as you took your first step towards her, her hands beckoned you greedily into her embrace. A hug from Grandma was like no other. I swear it had medicinal properties. It seemed to wrap you into a cotton-wool world where only you and she existed, and no harm could come to you Despite her 5’2 frame, her soft, cushioned arms enclosed around your shoulders, dragging you into the crook of her neck. Once there, you were rocked from side to side and sang a ditty from her school days. It was comforting and magical; the world could never get you once you were with Grandma.
There was always something regal about Grandma when she sat in her chair. Her personality demanding the respect she had earned and deserved throughout the 94 years of her life. The straightness of her spine aligned perfectly with the back of the chair, hands often clasped in her lap as she listened eagerly to our stories, or crocheted the endless blankets that filled her cupboards – and ours. She wasn’t aloof, we were too poor to be aloof, her manner was affable and playful. Her dresses, conservative florals, were usually blue or purple and served as a blank canvas for the rest of her outfit. She made her mark through her accessorising; 3 or 4 set of plastic beads, bright, often clashing colours and a cardigan or two on a chilly day. brooches. Why choose one when you can wear all your favourites every day? And then there were her rings. Often a ring on every finger that told the story of her life. There was the engagement ring from the 19 year old soldier who didn’t make it back from the war; the engagement ring from Granddad Craig who at 9 years her elder, declared on the day he met her, she was the girl he was going to marry. The green plastic ring that came out of last year’s Christmas cracker but was kept for its colour. A colour that matched her crudely painted fingernails – or at least one or two of them. There was always a story.
It seemed perfectly natural for us to sit on the floor at her feet and memorise her poems. Looking up at her. It didn’t matter how many times we heard them or how many times she repeated herself. It was all part of the deal. All of us children and grandchildren would subconsciously surround her, hanging on her every word, laughing, teasing, looking up at her, looking up to her. We were protecting the family jewel.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/weekly-writing-challenge-characters/
I think if you’ve lost someone in a war it defines your character forever – Just stopping by to see what people are writing about for the Challenge – well done. She sounds like a good woman!
Thanks snosler, she was.
She never spoke much about the soldier, I harbour a romantic theory that it was her one true love.
What a beautiful post. I love the last line! Congrats on getting FP!
Thank you so much. I’m very honoured and pleased a piece about my favourite person has received this recognition. Wow!
What a wonderful way to remember your Grandma! Looking forward to seeing more from you!
Thank you for stopping by, I’ll try to keep them coming
Have a great and awesome blogging day! http://www.segmation.wordpress.com
How beautiful!
Thank you
Beautifully written tribute to a beautiful lady. I’m leaving you something that I have always loved. I hope you enjoy it.
Thank you so much. I’ve never heard this before but it’s lovely. Thanks for sharing
A very touching tribute – beautifully written. I enjoyed it.
Thank you so much
And truly deserving of being `Freshly Pressed`. I usually read those but very seldom are grabbed the way your post grabbed me.
Wow! That’s high praise indeed. I’m glad you enjoyed it
Beautiful post..! so deserving of freshly pressed
Thank you so much
oh -it finished quickly. i wanted to read more
I think there a story about the 19 year old soldier brewing somewhere…:)
Eccellent. I’ll be watching out for it.
A really nice, well written article – and obviously from the heart.
*blush* thank you. It’s easy to write when the subject matter means so much
My grandma is almost ninety years old. I can’t imagine a world without her. I dread the day when I’ll have to face that reality. Have you noticed how few people actually appreciate their grandparents nowadays?
Enjoy your time with her. Grandparents are a blessing. I only got to know one and I am forever grateful for all the time we spent together. She’s been gone 5 years but I like to believe she watches over me.
Reminds me so much of my grandma…Got me remembering all my grandparents thankyou…
Grandmas are awesome aren’t they? Enjoy your memories
Now that i’ve dried my eyes i can see to write a sincere note of thanks to you for writing this…not only did i enjoy a time of remembering my grandma, i reflected deeply on what i am leaving my grandchildren, and great-grand-kids as well. You have demonstrated clearly the necessity of grandmas to step up and leave the best of themselves when they are not around any more. Your words showed the gentleness your grandma left to you.
Do you think that grandmas are made like they used to be? Yours sounds like one of a kind. Did she leave an instruction manual?
Thanks for this posting.
Thank you for your kind words. I don’t think there is a blueprint unfortunately, just being there is gift enough I think. Of and be a good story-teller
Beautiful remembrance of your grandmother. They make us who we are, don’t they? I really miss mine.
Thank you. They are brilliant and at least we have our memories
That was so precious…love the bit about the broaches
Haha! Thank you, she did love her “jewellery”
I miss mine so much. We sat at her feet and treasured her too.
Another family jewel
I really like your blog and would love you to feature on mine, http://www.5thingstodotoday.com. All you have to do is write five suggestions along with a link back to your site. Please check out the blog and see the sort of things people have written about.
Thank you, I’ll be sure to have a look
Good read
Thank you
Reblogged this on cookiedmouse's Blog and commented:
I love this
A lovely piece ! I did not have the good fortune to have grandparents, they died early, but you made me feel a warm lasting embrace spanning time and space !!!!
Congrats on being Freshly Pressed
Wow thank you for your lovely words
Love in the lines and love between the lines. Love in the image and love phraseology. So much love. A beautiful piece – well done.
Thank you
Hi. I picked you up off Cookie D Mouse. I’m the guy who lent her my bum.
I like this post a lot.
You might like this, about my nana. I sense some shared ground here about grandmothers
http://nobodysreadingme.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/a-bit-more-of-my-autobiography-because-im-feeling-lazy/
i love this post. a very beautiful post
Thank you
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
lovely! Reminds me of my grandmother and also a piece my son wrote about my mom recently. She must be so proud of you.
Thank you. I’m hoping she’s feeling some the cyber love
I ‘pressed’ on my site, so beautiful. Thank you for writing it.
And thank you for reading